Means for controlling the liquid level in containers



May 3, 1932- A. D. JOHNSTON MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE LIQUID LEVEL INCONTAINERS Filed July 19', 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'lllll Illl ll lllllllATTORNEY May 3; 1932. A. D. JOHNSTO-N MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE LIQUIDLEVEL IN CONTAINERS Filed July 19 1930 WITNESS v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR A ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEARTHUR n aormsron, or rmn, TEXAS MEANS ron CONTROLLING THE Applicationfiled my 19,

liquid level control means that will automatically release the liquid ina container such as a tank when the liquid in said container rises abovea predetermined point.

A further object of my invention is to pro- 5 vi de a device of the typedescribed which will be entirely housed to exclude the same from accessthereto to thus prevent disorder and disarrangement of the parts.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thetype described which will have its parts so protected from accumulationsof sediment and'other foreign matter in the liquid that the same willnot be liable to disorder-for this reason.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thetype described which has the parts so proportioned and arranged thatwear on said parts is so evenly distributed and accommodated that thelife thereof is greatly prolonged.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thetype described which has few parts, is simple to manufacture, easy toassembleand does not get outof order quickly. 7

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceedsand theinvention will be more particularly deflned in the appendedclaims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, in which: c

Figure 1 is an elevational viewtof a device in accordance with myinvention;

I Figure 2 is a sectional view of my inven- LIQUID LEVEL IN CONTAINERS I1930. Serial No. 469,221.

tion, with parts thereof shown in elevation for clearness ofillustration;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line H of Figure 2; i a

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the device.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a container 1 which may be anoil or water containing tank, a reservoir or any other liquid containingmeans.

My device isadapted to be mounted in position on any suitable outlet'onthe container such as the outlet shown at 2 on said container providedsaid outlet is positioned below the level at which it is wishedto-maintainsaid liquid.

In adapting this outlet to my invention I provide the same with a flange3 having apertures therein for the reception of nut and bolt fasteners 4therethrough. It is to this flange and by means of these fasteners thatI secure my device in position.. i V

For'encasing the working parts of my invention as well as for providinga suitable conduit for the release of excess fluid from the outlet 2 Iprovide thehousing 5 which has an elongated portion 6 and a chamberportion 7 for a purpose that will soon be evident, The elongated portion6 is provided with an apertured fiange'8 which may be identical inconstruction with the flange 3 of the outlet 2. 7

For preventing sediment and other foreign matterwhich may be in thecontainer 1 from coming into contact with the working parts of myinvention positioned in the casing 5, I place between said tank 1 andsaid casing 5 a screen 9 which is suitably apertured along its outerperiphery. in a manner'similar to the flanges 3 and 8 for reception ofthe fasten ers 45.. This screen is further provided with a verticallypositioned slot 9? extending downwardly from the upper extremitythereofthe operating portions of my device as will soon be made clear.

For sealing the joint between the flanges 3 and 8 I position betweensaid flanges and on either side of the screen 9 aV-pair of gaskets 10and 11 which gaskets are of annular form and provided with apertures inthe annulus for the reception of fasteners 4.

It can easily be understood that when the fasteners are engaged with thevarious elements as shown in Figures 2and 3 a tight joint will besecured with the screen and cas ing 5 firmly mounted in the tank andoutlet.

The casing 5 has an outlet 12 in the base position relative to thereoffor discharge of fluid therefrom. "The provided with a pair of valveseats 15 and 16 in the lower and upper walls respectively thereof forcooperation with movable valves for controlling the flow of fluid fromportion (has will soon be described. Thevalve seat 15 is of lesser crosssectional extent than valve seat 16to permit easy assembly by allowingthe use of a smaller valvefor engage-. ment with the-seat 15 that is'avalve of small enough sizeto :pass entirely through valve e 1 f I 'Forcooperation with said valve seats to perform'the'opening and closingoperation of the valves a double valve member 17 is provided whichdouble valve'consists of an elongated rod 18 having guide rods 19 and20'p-roj ecting fro1n the lower and upperends respectively thereof forengagement with guide bores in members that will'soon be described. Thisvalverod is equipped with a valve member 21 for' cooperation with thevalve seat 15 anda valve member 22. for co operation with the valveseat16. It'will be notedthat these valve members areof truncated cone shapeand that they cooperate withthe valve seats 15'an'd 16 which'aresimilarly shaped. It will also be observed that the valve member 21 isof lesser cross sectional areathan valve member 22 and the smallestdiameter of valve seat 16 to permit ifis'ertionof theva'lve memberduring assem- 'For. attachment of the operating members of my device tothis spindle 18 for operation of valve 17 I equip said spindlewithan'annular yoke'member 23 which'fmay be made integral with the 'm'ember13or may be mounted rotatably but "non-reciprocativ'ely thereon. Ballbearingstnotshowli) may of 'course beprovided betweeif'the bearingportiohs 24and 25" of't'he annular yoke member 23 and the rod 18. forbringing about easy rotation thereof. The'securing of the yoke 23 andits rod 19 against rotative reciprocating motion may be accomplished byan annular slot and tongue arrangement (not shown) between said membersas is easily understood.

The annular yoke 23 is further equipped with a pair of projecting ears26 which may be positioned on either side thereof at the approximatevertical center as shown most clearly in Figure 5. These'ears are shownas being of circular construction and bearings 27 are mounted on saidears.

For engagement with the bearings 27 of the'ea'rs" 26 to-raisea-nd lowerthe valve 17 for performing the opening and closing operation I provide'a' yoke" 28 which yoke has on each arm thereof a slot 29 and a slot 30to rec-eiv'e the bearings 27. These slots are of sufficient lengthto'accommodate back-ward andforward motion of the ears 26 therein. Forraising and lowering the1yoke 28 to consequently raise the valve-17 toopen and shut the same a system of levers generally indicated at, 31,are provided, which-levers are adapted for actuation bya float 32 whichis maintained at the liquid level as is easily understood. This systemof levers comprises a. bellcrank lever 33 having one arm thereof 34connected to the yoke-28' and another arm thereof 35vprojectingoutwardly from the pivotal point- 36 ofthelever. This lever is mountedone standard 37 which is secured in the lower wall of .;the*portion 6 ofthe casing. Cooperating-withthis lever 33 is a rocker lever-38 whichis-mountedon a standard 39 in the upperwall of the portion 6 of thecasing S and which is consequently oppositely'disposed to the'l'ever-33. The levers 33 and 38-are connected by their arms 35and-4O by aconnecting-rod-41 swivelled thereto. The other arm 42 of the rockerlever 38 projects throu 'hthe slot in the screen 9 and intothe tan 1for; engagement with the'float by-means shown; in-Figure2.

For connectingthe float 32 to-the lever 42 the connecting-rod43isutilized. This connecting rod 43is bent as indicated at'44 toconveniently connect the same to the float- 32 and foreasy connectionofthe arm 42 to lever 38. It is the length of thisrod 43 that determinesthe levelat which the liquid {will be maintained in the containerrby mydevice.

For forcing sediment and other foreign matter from the-screen9 for;preventingcl'ogging of thejaperturesin saidscreen withsa consequentdisarra'ngementpf :the parts of in said figure.

. the ening 47 in the upper portion of the cham er by means of suitablefasteners such as screw bolts 48. This top cap is provided with a bore49 for the reception of packing and associated gland nut 51 above saidpacking which secures the packing in place. The gland nut 51 is providedwith a bore 52 for the reception of the'guide rod 20 of valve 18 forsecurin the same in straight line reciprocation. t will be noted thatthe guide portion 20 of the valve is equipped with a ball 53 which ballis utilized as an indicating means to an operator for showing when thevalve is elevated or lowered to opened or closed positions respectively.

To guide the guide rod 19 in straight line reciprocation the outlet 12is equipped with a bushing 54 mounted therein and having a bore forpassage of the guide rod. This guide rod is equipped with a nut whichengages the bushing 54 to prevent overtravel of the valve member 17 andthus prevent possible breakage of the parts.

From the foregoing description, the use and operation of my device iseasily understood.

The flan e on the outlet is formed as heretofore set forth. The flangeof my casing memher 5, the gaskets 10 and 11 and the screen 8 are thenpositioned as shown in Figure 2 and the fasteners 4 screwed intoposition as shown The outlet 12 of my casing member 5 is then positionedover the container or in the place at which it is wished to deposit theexcess fluid flowing from the tank 1. The device is thus set up foroperation.

The rod 43 is then formed of a lengthsuitable for positioning the float32 at the level at which it is desired to maintain the liquid in thetank while at the same time connecting said float to the arm 42 of therocker lever 38. Of course it is understood that thelength of this rod43 may be varied as desired to secure liquid levels at variable points.It must be made of suitable length to connect the float to the arm 42 oflever 38 when the i connection of said lever to arm '40 of rocker lever38. Movement of thebellcrank leverZ about itspivotin a clockwisedirection 'ele' vates arm 34 thereof with aconsequentelevationof yoke28, associated yoke 23 and movable'valve rod 17.- This operation raisesthe valve members 21and 22 from their respectiveseats 15 and 16 topermit emission of the liquid from the portion 6 into chamber 7 andthrough outlet 12 about bushing 54 which is suitably cut away to permitthis passage.

The up and down movements of arm 42 ofrocker lever 38 are accommodatelby means ofthe screen 9. q

Upon the flow of liquid from the outlet 12 the liquid level in tank 1will descend carrying with it float 32 and gradually closingthe valvemembers 21 and 22 to cut off the flow of hquid until the float 32reaches the predetermined point at which position the valves are closedand the tank 1 is adapted to maintam the liquid at the desired level. 2'

During these movements the slotted relation of the yoke 28 to the cars26 accommodates the arcuate movement of the yoke 28 about the pivot 36as is easily understood. 7

When the operator desires to clean the screen 9 from the accumulation ofsediment or other foreign matter on the outer face thereof he simplyforces air throughthe blow p pe 45, to force said sediment or otherfore1gn matter from said screen and back into the tank 1.

It is thus seen that I have provided a means 7 shocks incident tooperation, that the wear caused by said shocks is Well distributedthroughout with a consequent decrease in the liability of breakage.

I claim:

1. In a means for controlling the liquid level in containers, a valveadapted to release the excess liquid in the container, means foractuating said valve in accordance with the level of the liquid in saidcontainer, 3. screen to shield said valve and said controlling meansfrom sediment or other foreign matter in the liquid and a blow pipe forremoving sedi- 'ment from said screen.

2. In a means for controlling the liquid level in containers, a casingadapted to be secured to an outlet of said container, a screenpositioned between said outlet and said casing, said screen having aslot formed therein,

areciprocable-valve carried by said casing, levenmeans withinsaid casingfor operating said valve to open and closed positions one ofsaid leversprojecting through the slot of said screen, means for moving said lastmentioned lever and'a blow pipe mounted adj acent said screen forremoving sediment therefrom.

;3. In a means for controlling the liquid level in containers, a casingadapted to be secured to an outlet of said containena screen positionedbetween said outlet and said casing, said screen havinga slot formedtherein, said casing having an elongated portion closed at one end and achamber portion provided with anoutlet, said closed elongated portionprojecting into said chamber and having a valve for release of fluid, apair of spaced pivot standards mounted in said elongated portion, bellcrank levers mounted upon said standards, one arm of one of said bellcranks being connected tosaid valve, a rod connectingthe otherarinthereof With an arm of said other bell crank, the other arm of saidlast named bell crank projecting through the slot of saidscreen, and afloat connected to said last named arm'for actuation ofsaid valveinaccordance with the'levelof theliquid in said container; r

4. In a means for controlling the liquid level in containers, a casingadapted to be secured to an outlet of said container, said r casinghaving an elongated portion closed at one end anda chamberportionprovided with an outlet,-said closed elongated portionprojectinginto said chamberand having a-pair of valve seats formed inthe walls thereof, a double-valve mounted Within said elongated portionand cooperating'with said seats, a pair of spaced pivot standardsmounted in said elongated portion, .bell crank levers mounted upon saidstandards, one of said bell cranks beingconnected to said valve, a floatconnected to said other bell crank lever and a rod connecting said bellcranks.

. ARTHUR D. JOHNSTON,

